Virginia�s Political Lineup

Redistricting Deadline

The legislative redistricting plan was adopted on May 11, 2001 and was precleared by the Department of Justice on June 15, 2001 (House) and July 10, 2001 (Senate). The congressional redistricting plan was adopted on July 19, 2001 and as of August 2001 awaits Department of Justice preclearance.

Who�s in Charge of Redistricting?

The legislature, where the Joint Reapportionment Committee has jurisdiction. The governor has veto power over both the congressional and state legislative district plans.

Districting Principles 

  + = required               - = prohibited             a=allowed

Public Access

Statewide public hearings will be held. Also, maps of proposed plans will be available and are a matter of public record. This information is all available in print as well as online .

Also see an analysis of the 2001 Virginia elections, including turnout trends and effects of redistricting on races, by Washington and Lee University Professor Mark Rush.

Political Landscape

Virginia Democrats in 1991 drew good plans for their party, both for the state legislature and the state�s congressional delegation, but the partisan tide in the state has steadily swung districts toward Republicans. Republicans finally took control of both the state senate and state house in 1999, and are poised to cement their state legislative advantage and their recent gains in congressional elections in 2001. It is quite possible that the combination of redistricting and retirement of long-time Democratic incumbents could lead to Democrats being reduced to two U.S, House seats during the upcoming decade, while the state legislative plan already has led to the retirement of several top Democrats in the legislature.

Legal Issues

Virginia�s state senate and house plans were challenged in 1991 and 1992. The house challenge was heard in federal court on the theory that it was a partisan gerrymander. The court dismissed the plaintiffs� claims because there had been no harm done by the plan as of that time since no elections had been held under the new plan. The senate plan was challenged in state court on state constitutional grounds. The plaintiffs pointed out that the 18th senatorial district did not comply with state constitutional compactness requirements. The court found that the General Assembly was simply attempting to honor other competing interests, such as compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the equal population requirements of the 14th Amendment.